‘Dancing With the Stars’ tour members involved in deadly pile-up in Iowa snowstorm
A tour bus full of cast and crew from the “Dancing With the Stars” tour was involved in a massive pile-up of more than 50 cars, buses and semi-trucks in Ames, Iowa, Monday during a brutal winter storm.
One person died in the crush of cars on Interstate 35 and about a half dozen people were critically injured, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
About 7 inches of snow fell in central Iowa Monday afternoon, causing crashes on highways across the state, The Des Moines Register reported.
The one involving the “DWTS” cast around noon was the largest, causing Highway 35 to shut down to traffic in both directions, the newspaper reported.
Members of the “Dancing with the Stars: Live! Light Up The Night” show posted messages on social media to let fans know they were OK after the scary accident.
“All cast and crew members are fine, with some recovering from minor injuries," tour organizers said in a statement reported by ABC News.
#BREAKING: Massive car crash on southbound I-35 near #Ames
— Rafael Lopez (@Rlopeznews) February 5, 2018
-Southbound lane CLOSED
-Multiple cars involved
-1st responders on scene pic.twitter.com/nMf2tnDqUl
This is what it is like on I35 Northbound just north of Ankeny. pic.twitter.com/ioa1IucyzK
— Marcus McIntosh KCCI (@MarcusKCCI) February 5, 2018
The cast was headed to Stephens Auditorium in Ames for a Monday performance, which was canceled.
The tour involves several of the professional dancers who appear on the TV show, including Sharna Burgess, Lindsay Arnold, Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, Keo Motsepe and Artem Chigvintsev.
It’s unclear who was on the bus during the accident.
Jordan Fisher, who won the last installment of the show and is touring with the show, tweeted thanks “for the safety of our crew.”
Thanking God for the safety of our crew. Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes. https://t.co/CLCOD3R0rx
— Jordan Fisher (@Jordan_Fisher) February 5, 2018
“Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, who also competed on the show and is now touring, had tweeted about the dangerous weather conditions earlier in the day.
Riding in the bus on our way to the show tonight in Ames, Iowa, looking out the window at the snow covered ground in this crazy blizzard listening to unreleased songs of a band I was in 8 years ago...
— Frankie Muniz (@frankiemuniz) February 5, 2018
“To anyone involved in the accident, the entire cast sends their best wishes for a speedy recovery, and their deepest apologies to all of the fans who have been waiting to see the show tonight,” tour organizers said in a statement.
This story was originally published February 6, 2018 at 11:18 AM with the headline "‘Dancing With the Stars’ tour members involved in deadly pile-up in Iowa snowstorm."